Mobile forklift servicing and repair

Small warehouses, factories, farms, builders' merchants and other firms with one or a few trucks and no in-house engineer.

You charge a call-out fee plus labour and parts for repairs. Regular service contracts give steady income, and later you can earn commission on trucks you sell or hire out.

• Mechanical or engineering background, ideally on forklifts or plant
• Fault finding on diesel, LPG and electric trucks
• Reliable, tidy and good at communicating with customers
• Basic invoicing and diary management

• Thorough examinations under LOLER usually need a competent person, so check what you can and can't sign off
• Risks from charging batteries, LPG and heavy loads, so check safety training and procedures
• Public liability insurance, plus cover for your tools, van and the work you do (check whether you need product or professional indemnity)
• Check whether you must register as a waste carrier for used oil, batteries and parts
• Warranty and liability if a repair fails, so keep clear job records

Startup costs are typically around £5,000 to £20,000, depending on your van, tools and insurance. Monthly revenue is typically around £2,500 to £9,000, depending on how many customers and trucks you look after.

You need a mechanical or engineering background, ideally on forklifts or plant, and the ability to fault find on diesel, LPG and electric trucks. Time needed is typically from around 15 hours a week, depending on your customer base.

Check what you can and can't sign off, as thorough examinations under LOLER usually need a competent person. Also check safety training for batteries, LPG and heavy loads, waste carrier rules, insurance, and warranty and liability if a repair fails.